chbistophel



' Y f Re. 15,573y c. E. CHRISTOPHEL SHEET FEEDING MACHINE 4 sheets-sheet l Apr. 3, 1923. -4 Re. 13,573

' i E. CHRISTOPHEL SHEET FEEDING MACHINE Original Filed Apr*A 9, 1919 4 sheetssheet 2 Apr. 3`, 1923. Re. 15,573

'C. E. CHRISTOPHEL SHEET EEED'ING MACHINE Original FledwApl". 9, 1919 4 sheets-sheet@ v C. lE. CHRISTOPHEL.

SHEET FEEDING MACHINE v Re.- 15,573 E Original Filed Apr. 9, 1919 4 Smets-sheet 4 Reisaued Apri 3, v923.

. -N Re.15,573 I cxnnncnnisfrornnr. r'PnaannIvJ-:R-,'NEW Y6RK, Assmnon To nExTEnFoLnn.

kno; n thatfI ,"CAn'L E. Cnnis'rornm., citizen offiGermany, "residing'jat Pearl` River, county?l of Rockland, Statef ofk New York, have inventeda' certain knew and ilse-f iul Improvement- Shee'tfFedig- @Ma-'4 chines,- of wh'ichfthe vff'illowing a jspecifi-" VThis. inventionwrelate's to vsheet ,feeding, marinas-.ananasfar .asaobjectf to provide: an improve'dffconstruction. and arrangement "of parts folj adapting machinesfofths char-V greater certaintyon "sheets Which are to :actor tof operate; more' ral'aidly` and'k with belted onefby one from a' pile, andf especially such an Aimproved sheetfeeding mechvarious `k'irnldsfincluding sheets of thin or "flimsy paper which Ordinarily are diicult .To this end dief-present invention com'- to separate from a pile `oneat a ytime and which are easily mutilated or nfius'sed. k

prises, in its broadest aspect, automatically operating-movable means forlifting the top sheets Vof a'pileat one point to imparta bend tothe lifted sheets, vin combination `with some form of sheet engaging device cooperatin with'said movable sheetliflting means to urtheryraise and separate the up` permost sheet from the sulojacent sheets'lnv the hollow of the upwardly bent sheets, and means `for injecting air begeath said uppermost sheet. -The vsheet engaging device which cooperates, with 'thelmovable' "sheet f l ftingv means. ma);-` 4Sheet' straightening ing the final phase of theoperation;

device acting .upon thefraised portions Aof the sheets 'for straightening: lthe top" ysheet` across the'bend in said lifted sheetsjor-it. may b e' a sheet 'gripping vdevi' ce," such as a' 1 suction cup,` toV take hold of the top "sheet and raise itfin Ithe f bemil;` or'V there maybe a combination ofthe sheet .straightening device, "the sheet 'grip-ping device and. the. a-utomaticallv'; operatingjsheet lifting means" for 'accomp The pre'se inventioncontenipl te ther, infie erredviembrodimen ably formed 1leveV v'movable yabout jan vaims into and out/.jy fpositionto lift aportionfof a pile of sheets, va comhingjvvheel y coope`1' ""aty ingl therewith.- t fo -v impart .l 'gradedZ -pshee .straightening 'Iriovefmeiits` to sheets gcomposine'- thev fperod`icallylifted portion ofxsaidjj pile.y during thellifting', .fmovemen and Q81 f lshoe .lnthedrawingsi f u "F'gure 1 vis aside yon Fig. 6; the opposite side las anisin.

oflpositionfto grip they top sheet.

My -invention furthermore contemplates the vcooperation"fof .the sheet lifting Vmeans With-ithe,sheetfgripper alone, or the cooper- @amerite iifangmanswahthe Combw ing Wheel alone, for e'ecti'nga preliminary 'separating action, in connection With any sultable t mechanism forffeeding off the Sheets. .w-

, The invention further contemplates a construction byrneans of which. the sheet l,g'ripping sucker can be so arranged as to be moved into and Vout of position to operate upon-tlietop` 'sheet of that portion of a pile rwhich has been elevated by the lift lever. The form and' arrangement of the" sheet engaging devices, vemployed i one with, an!- other or all three together, depend upon'y the character of the sheets which are being op'- erated upon.

elevation of a "preferred, embodiment ofmy invention taken in the direction indicated-by the lower arrow v Yeo similar side elevation from indicated bygthe upperv j w Figure l3v is a side elevation'similar.toV Fig. '1* 's sitions;

4 iszar similar side elevation showinga more advanced stage of the operation;

Figure 5 is fa. similar side elevation showisa 'topplan view .of the mech- In theembodiinent of ymy invention shown on-vthe draivings, -t-a guide shafty 1, provided with af rack `2 `servesftocarry a bracket 3 V9 5 which is adapted-@toibo moved 'along the ishaft 1 vby means 'of a pinion (not" shown) ,on the end of al'fspindle 4 provided with a I "pinion being said rotated andfl'ikewiseexeds througltfthe lugs 8 01.1` thevv bracket- 3 Threaded {anfthe upper .sucker movable intoandfout 55 l hovvingf'the' parts in changed 13o-Q85 l Fig'jl'.l The screw rod 105 end of the screw rod 9 is a handle 10 which is adapted to raise and lower the sheet sepairating device in its entirety. l

ournaled in the main frame 6 is a cani shaft'll to one end of which is secured the combing wheel 12. Ilhe other end of said shaft carries a bevel gear 13 which meshes with' a similar gea-r 14 mounted on a power shaft 15. Said drive and cam shaft 11 is thus rotated in the direction of thearrow shown on Fig. 6. lt will be seen therefore that the combing instrumentality 12 -rotates on a fixed axis above the normal top plane of the pile of sheets.

rl`he frame 6 is provided with rearwardly presented arms 16 whichl carry a shaft or bolt 17. Pivotally mounted on the shaft or bolt 17 is a lifting lever 18 which roughly lconforms in contour to the periphery of the l comber'12 when said lever is in operative position with respect to said comber. rPhe lower end of said lever 18 is pointed at 19 Atoadaptit to be driven into the edge of a ile of sheets on a table 20 (preferably ad- ]acent to the corner of the pile) for momentarily lifting a portion of said pile, and forming ari-upward bend or hollow in the lifted sheets. i f

Rigidly secured to the shaft or bolt 17 are spaced forwardly presented bracket arms 21 between' which extends a spring rod 22.

. curved arm 35 'whiclbisf` rovided"atits'outer enlarged end with p urality vofholes'- or sockets k36 for the reception yof stud-37( f cording tol Fig. 3, lthe sucker is moving downwfardias the comber12begins its action u on lDepending Pins or trunnions 23 which are journaled upon, the arms l21L carry a guide or enlargement 24 in which the rod 22 is slidably mounted. Surrounding therod 22 and interposed between the guide or enlargement 24 anda thumb nutr25 on the rod `22 is connected at 27 to the lift lever k18. It will be seen therefore that the spring y26'tends to'throw the lift lever v18 into op-- f erating engagement withfthepile of sheets. ,y 'The lift yleve-r 18gfcarries 'a pm or. stud 28r on whichis pivotallymounted oneend of a camflever 29. The other end;` of said cam lever com rises laterally [spaced arms 30 which s li ably engagethecam shaft .11."- Journaled on the camglever' 29 is la" roller 31which travels "onimiriam-32 keyed to the cam shaft 11'.l At eachy vinward movement of lift leverJlSfa portionj-of the pilei is; lifted in themanner' indicated infFig.' 3 .into'fthe sphere of' action ofthe combing 'wheel v12.;

time for said:v lifted portieri ofthev v Fig.L 3, vclamping foot45 has beenlifted by from the, stud. or boltA -17 is a bracket arm 33 at thelower endIofzwhiclifis mounted a pin "34 lwhich serves toipivotffa just in A Y A pile to be'operated'upon by comberv 1241;@

which carries a. suctontubefu provided at y the upper .end `of rod 22,1is a spring 26.v At its lower end,

sheet of the pile, is provided by a cam 40 over which travels a roller 41 which is journaled on a pin 42 carriedby the lever arm 35.

0n `the lower end of a depending bracket arm 43 is a laterally projecting guide pin 44 on which slides a clamping foot 45 which is provided with a suitable cam surface 46 and an upwardly extending slot 47 which adapts saidclamping foot to move downwardly and upwardly .prior to `and after each inward and outward movement. The clamp foot 45-is swingingly suspended from a pin 48 carried by a cam lever 49 which pivots on the shaft or boltl. tja-id cam lever 49 is provided with a rearwardly projecting arm 50 between which and a similar arm 51 of the clamping foot 45 extends al spring 52 which tends to draw them to gether. This spring is thereby adaptedto perform a double function, namely, to impart the movements to said clamping foot 45"while at the same time serving to hold a cam roller r53 which is journaled on the cani lever 39, againstthe cam 54 which serves to govern the movements of these parts.

-The usual wind pipe 55 is connected to a nozzle 56 which is suitably presented to proi vide a blanket of air under the upper sheet afterl it has been raised by the sucker 39. The operation of the mechanism will now be readily understood from the following brief description:

According to the relative positions ofthe parts shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 6, the sucker 39 hasa short time before releasedv the preceding top sheet which is being withdrawn from the pileby suitable means Ynot 'shown on the drawings. The cam ro-lle-r 41 (which controls the risegand fall of the sucker 39) is soon to be permitted to move to the inner run of cam 40 to pemit the sucker 39 to asclamping foot 45 is about to be shifted toward the right and lifted by means l.of the cam 54 whichv moves the cam roller' 53 into its extreme right hand position according to Fig.r 1. At the same time, the lifting levv er. is'about .to vbe thrown into the posit1on`sl'1own in Fig. 3 by reason of cam roller `31"being released by cam 32 to assume its 'eatreme'leftjhand position.- As-shown in cam roller 53 beingr forced tothe outerl run Offcam'54', .while the lifting lever 18 has disp-I placed upwardly and momentarily supportcombe' '12.,operatey on the top. sheets. l Ac'-v `the-.topsheets.y By the time sucker 39' as reached its lowest"y position .as shown v'in Fig.

4, the top sheet of the lifted portion of the pile has been straightened across the bend or hollow of the Lip-turned sheets by the acvtion of the cember. and thereby raised slightly into a suitable position to be gripped by sucker 39. Immediately afterward, the cam roller 31 is foiced to the outer run of cam 32 to throw the' lift lever\18 away from the pile as shown in Fig. 5. At the same time, the clamping foot 45 has moved forward and downward, brushing beneath the raised edge of the -top sheet during the suckers rising movement which is occasioned by cam roller 41 being forced to the outer run of` ca m 40. Blasts of air are delivered from nozzles 56 beneath the top sheet as the separating action is co-mpleted. The parts are next moved into the relative positions shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 6, the separated top sheet being released by the suc-ker and passed forwardly from the machine: The successive operations are thus produced in the sequence-pointed out above.

. The improved sheet separating device is designed primarily for use as a preliminary separator in an automatic sheet feeding ma- 'f chine, having afpile elevatingtable and suitable feeding-o and` delivery devices for conveyingsheets to printing presses and other machines designed. to operate upon them. The improved separator may be used asa single unit when operating upon cer; tain sizes of sheets, but when operating upon sheets of large sizeit will, of course, be

understood that two of the improved separators are employed to act simultaneously upon `the rear corners of the pile in accordance with the commonpractice of operating automatic feeding machines.

As heretofore stated the improved separator maybe used with either or. both'of the sheet engaging devices, depending-upon the character of the stock operated upon. Vhen employing the sheetl elevating mea-ns with only the Vsheet straightening combing de-` vice, the sheet gripping sucker .can be held out of action byits adjusting devices. IVith' some kinds of paper stock the action'of the sheet coniber upon the raised portions of the sheets is suflicient to permit the introduction of a blanket of air beneath the top sheet vto completely separate it without the'assistanc of the suction gripper. Likewise withy certain kinds of stock Athe actionof the sheet elevating means causes a sufficient separation of the top sheet inthe hollo-w of the upbent portions 'of sheets to enable the suction gripper to take hold of the top sheet and complete the separation Without theA assistance of the combing device.

I claim: K v. f y 1. In a sheet feedingv machine, a sheet gripping instrumentality, means for sup- Yportmg a pile of sheets and holding one portion of said pile displaced relatively to other yportions of said pile, and means operating upon the top sheetof said pile in a direct-ion away from said sheet gripping instrumentality for moving said top sheet into position to be engaged by said sheet gripping instrumentality.

2. In a sheety feeding machine, a sheet gripping instrumentality, means for supporting a pile of sheets and holding one portion of said piledisplaced relatively to other portions of said pile, and means operating upon the disp-laced portion of the topsheet of said pile in a direction away from said sheet gripping instrumentality and moving said topsheet into position vto be engaged' by said sheet grippinginstrumentality,

3. In a sheet feeding machine, a sheet.

gripping instrumentality, means foi supporting a pile of sheets, means for displacing one portion of'said pile relatively to another, and means operating upon the to'psheet of said 'pile in a direction away from said sheet gripping instrumentality and intermediately of said sheet gripping inst-rumentality and said displacing means for moving said top sheet into positiontobe engaged by said sheet gripping'instrumenl l 4. In a sheet feeding machine, a pile supporting table, means for imparting a bend pile, a sheet gripping instrumentality` arranged'above a pile yof sheets on saidV table, and means operating on the top sheet of said inc pile in a direction away from said sheet gripy i ping instrumentality for straightening said top sheet and moving it'nearer said sheet gripping instrumentality. v

6. In a .sheet feeding machine, the coml bination 'with a pile holding table, of a sucker and means for lifting a portion of a pile of sheets from said table and toward said sucker, and a sheet combing 'instrumentality operating on the lifted portion of said pile -for drawing out thetop sheet into po.y sitionfto be engaged by said sucker.

7. In a sheet feeding machine, a pile hold- Ving table, means for lifting a portion of said pile, a sheet gripping instrumentalityy arranged labove a pile of sheets on said table, and sheet combing means operating on theI top sheet of said pile in a direction away from the said sheet gripping instrumentality for straightening said top sheet'and moving 1t nearer lsaid sheet gripping instrumentality.

8.'In a sheetl feeding machine, a pile" Y operating" periphery normally spaced holding table, meansforV lifting ,ppltion of said pile, a sheet gripplng inp strumentality arranged above. a pile of sheets on said table, andl sheetv comblifted portion ofthe pile in momentary -en-.V -agement Wit-l1 said sheet combing means.

V 9. In a sheet feeding machine, ythe `com-- bination with a' table' for holding a pile-of sheets, of sheet separating mechanism including a sucker, a combing vvheelljournaledj on. aIiaXis aboveksaid table and "havingits, operating periphery normally` spaced/fromv Aa pile of sheets on said table, and a lifting `lever- 'movable into and outfof positiontol rraise a portionofsaid pile into voperating engagement yvithsaid'combing Wheel. l

i 110.y In a sheet'feedingmacliine,ftl1e com- 1 bination Withfa table `for'holding' a pile vof sheets, Iof. sheet' separating mechanism in- 'c1udinga sucker, a combing wheel journaled ts engagingY instrumentality having a sphere l.of actionspaced above-thetop 'surface of a .pile-of Sheets, means forliftinga portion of saidjpile into the'spherejof action ofsaid onla'n axis abovesaid table and having a pile lof sheets on" saidltable, and a,V lifting lever movable into and-out 1 off position f to, raise a portionof-said kYpileginto operating -'engagement With-said combing wheel, said lifting lever being shapedftoI conform aproximately to the periphery of saidl como,

' f 11. In `-a sheet; `:lfeediiig machine,- 'a pile/ supporting table', a lifting leversuitably mounted foi' lifting a corner of a'pile of sheets on -said table, a sheet gripping sucker vmovable toward and away from-said pile' of sheets and-ar combing Wheel arranged above said vpile of sheets -and between said Sai'cl""lifting lever. d

@12b In a sheet feeding machine, a pile,

sucker and holding table, alever for lifting a yportion of Vs`aid'pilea sheet gripping instrumentality1 arranged above a pile of sheetson said table,

means for moving said lever and sheet gripping instrumentality alternately toward and above the upper surface of said pile, and a lifting lever movable into and out of position to lift a portion of said pile into position to be engaged by said combing instrumentality.

14. In a sheet-feeding machine, a table for holding a pile of sheets, va pile comber rotatable ona fixed axis above said table,

means for momentarily lifting a portion of a pile of sheets into and out of engagement Withsaid pile'comber for effecting a, relimrinary separation, and means movab ve into andyout of gripping engagement `with the lifted vportion of the separated upper sheet for removing said sheet. Y 1 v '15. Inv asheet'feeding machine, a table fonholding a pile ofsheets, a rotary pilel comber arranged above said table, alever suitably formed and .movable into andoutl ofl position to lift a portion of said'pile into position to be engaged by 'said comber, and

La sheet engaging sucker movable into and outof position to engage the lifted portion ofthe maar..

' 16, I n-agsheet.'fetdingmachine, atable for Aholding apileof sheets, va rotary pile comber nrrangedsabove said table, v-a lever 'suitably forliiedf'` and movable into and 'out of positiony toj'iift' afprtion of said pilefinto position-to lbe. engaged bysaidcomber, `and aj sheet 'engaging sucker movable into and lout of4 positionto engage the lifted portion of the 'top sheet,v said sucker and ilifting lever .being movable toward said rotary comber from opposite sides thereof.y i

17. InV a sheet feeding machine, a sheet sheet .engaging instrumentality, and sheet gripping vmeans movable into and out of VIVposition'to a sheet'which'has .been dis- `tality.

18. lIiia1 shea vfer-.ding machine, a 'Sheer' "gripper movable intoiand out of sheet gripping position above a pile of sheets, meansfor displacingportions of some of the sheets Vofsaid pile relatively to other portions of the same sheets,vand means operating on the displaced portion of the 'top sheet for moving'a 'portion of said vtop sheet into'position to be engaged by Said'sheet .gripper in sheet gripping position. said displacing means andsaid top sheet moving means being-movable'into and outA of cooperating relation to each other and on opposite sides of the lifted portion of said sheets.

19. Ina sheet feeding machine, a sheet gripper movable into and out of its lowermost position above a pile of sheets, means for lifting a portionof said pile adjacent to said gripper in its lowermtst position. and a sheet, combing device operating upon the lifted portion of the top sheet of said pile for drawing said top sheet into position to be engaged lby said sheet gripper.

20. In a-sheet feeding machine, the combination of a support for'a pile of sheets, with automatically operating movable means for lifting the top sheets of a pile at one point to impart a bend to the lifted sheets,

a. sheet engaging device cooperating with said sheet lifting means to further raise and separate the uppermost sheet from thesubjacent sheets in the hollow of the upwardly bent sheets, and means for injecting air beneath said uppermost sheet.

2l. In a sheet separating mechanism, the combination of automatically operating means for elevating and supporting the top sheets of a pile at one edge, and sheet straightening means cooperating therewith Vand engaging the elevated portion of the topmost sheet to straighten the same.

22. In a sheet separating mechanismhe combination of automatically operating means for elevating and supporting the top sheets of a pile at one edge, and a rotary sheet straightening device cooperating therewith and engaging the elevated portion of the topmost sheet to straighten the same.

23. In a sheet feeding machine, the combinat-ion of a support for a pile of sheets, automatically operating movable means for lifting the to sheets of the pile at one point to impart a lbend to the lifted sheets. a sheet straightening devicecooperating with said lifting means to straighten the uppermost sheet across said bend, and means for injecting air beneath the straightened lifted sheet.

24. In a sheet feeding machine, a pile supporting table, automatic means for imparting a. bend to a portion of said pile, rotary means for straightening the top sheet of said pile across said bend for partially separating the top sheet from the subjacent sheets,l and mea-ns for `introducing a blanket of air beneath said top sheet.

25. In a sheet feeding machine, apile sup-v porting table, automatic means for imparting a bend to a portion of said pile, sheet combing means for straightening the top sheet of said pile across said bend for partially separating the top sheet from the subjacent sheets, and means for introducing a blanket of air beneath said top sheet.

26. In a device of the character described, the combination of a sheet gripper, means for elevating and lowering the same, means for holding one edge of the sheet elevated, a rotary combing wheehand' means rotating the same outwardly toward the edge of the pile whereby the topmost sheet is straightened and engaged with said gripper.

27. In a sheet feeding machine, a table for holding a pile of sheets, a combing instrumentality adapted to operate on a portion of said pile of sheets when it is raised above the upper surface of said pile, and automatic means for lifting and supporting a portion of said pile in position to be engaged by said combing instrumentality.

28. In a sheet feeding machine, the combination of a pile supporting table, a lifting lever suitably mounted for lifting a corner of a pile of sheets on said table, and a combing wheel Aarranged to operate upon the lifted co'rners of the sheets.

CARL E. CHRISTOPHEL. 

